Theft Lawyer Located in Luzerne County 

The value of the property stolen is the key variable in determining what potential penalties a defendant may face for theft. 

If the property stolen is valued at less than $50, the offender will face third-degree misdemeanor charges. It’s important to note that even this comparatively light charge can still result in up to one year in jail, depending on the inclinations of the judge and a defendant’s prior record. 

 When the property stolen is valued between $50 and $200, the charge can escalate to a second-degree misdemeanor, which increases the maximum penalty to two years behind bars. Property valued up to $2,000 can result in first-degree misdemeanor charges and as long as five years in jail. 

The threshold for felony charges is at $2,000. Any theft from this point up to $100,000 can be a third-degree felony, which can result in prison sentences as long as seven years. Further escalation to second and first-degree charges can depend on the circumstances surrounding the theft (i.e., taking a firearm) and the value of the property taken, all the way up to $500,000 more. Prison sentences can go for up to 20 years. 

Defendants should know that there is considerable flexibility on the side of law enforcement, both in terms of the charges sought, and the sentences applied. How that flexibility is exercised might come down to how good the defendant’s Luzerne County theft lawyer is. And, of course, there is no sentence at all, when charges get dropped or acquittal is secured at trial. That’s the objective, our considerable experience, knowledge, and legal savvy is always being leveraged.